title: Imaging of the trachea and upper airways in patients with chronic obstructive airway disease.
abstract: The upper airways play a crucial role in respiration, as pathway for gases, modulator for airflow, and filter for particulate matter. This article describes the anatomy and physiology of the trachea and upper airways and imaging of the upper airways in patients with chronic obstructive airway disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, California, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Norbash
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009666:Nose / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D014137:Tracheobronchomegaly / Q000175:diagnosis